COPD

[livingwith]

I never smoked (well maybe 1 year when I was 20 and only for a year and now I am 62), and developed COPD when I was 60 or 61. The Doctors seem to be contributed it to my parents being smokers when I was growing up but other people have had parents that smoked and are not affected by COPD I am on oxygen and I am on it maybe 15 to 20 hours a day. I have Sp02 oximeter to help me determine when I should be on it the oxygen. I bought a treadmill so I can get in better shape. Is there anyone that is ...Read the full article

[catlady4847]

Sorry I am just now replying to your post. I just found this site. I am 61 and was just diagnosed with COPD last week. I never smoked and was never around anyone who did smoke (except for very short periods). My lung problems began several years ago, but went undiagnosed and mostly untreated. Now I can barely walk from one end of my house to the other. We have been looking at possible causes and I remembered when I was a small child and had bronchitis, the doctor treated it with x-ray. I was put under an x-ray machine for 15-30 minutes several times. This was supposed to cure the bronchitis. Now it sounds barbaric. But that was the recommended treatment back then. Doctors think this may have scarred my lungs. Then I got multiple pulmonary embolisms which also caused scarring. Did you ever have any problems in childhood with bronchitis? Might explain why you are having to suffer now. My heart is so good at compensating for lungs that I can't get my O2 sat below 90. So no oxygen. I just have to stay still and not move around much. I feel like a prisoner in my own home. My sympathy to you. I know how you feel. Be glad you have the O2.